Dermacentor reticulatus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) distribution in north-eastern Poland: an endemic area of tick-borne diseases

Abstract

Dermacentor reticulatus is the second most important tick species in Poland. Although the north-eastern region of Poland is considered typical for D. reticulatus and is treated as a contiguous area of Eastern populations of the meadow ticks, the occurrence of this tick species in this region to date has been recorded as separate foci. The present report supplements data on the geographical distribution of D. reticulatus in urban and natural biotopes of north-eastern Poland (Warmia and Mazury province). In 2015–2017 (during the springtime activity of ticks) adult questing D. reticulatus were found in 13 of 25 monitored localities. Six sites are located in urbanized areas, within the administrative borders of the city of Olsztyn and seven sites are in natural biotopes in the central part of Warmia and Mazury. A total of 398 adult D. reticulatus ticks, including 257 females and 141 males, were collected. A comparison of data grouped according to urban and natural type of area revealed no statistical differences between them. Taking into account the habitat type, the mean tick density was the highest in open landscapes. The identification of new foci D. reticulatus in the endemic areas of Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis and canine babesiosis is crucial for determining the risk of diseases transmitted by ticks and taking proper preventive measures.

Diversity, ecology, and seasonality of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in eastern Croatia

“…In Croatia, D. reticulatus was recognized as having an important role in the transmission of B. canis among different domestic or wild animals (Beck et al ). During the last 20 years, expansion of D. reticulatus into new areas had been observed in several European countries, increasing a risk for tick‐borne diseases (Kiewra and Czulowska , Földvári et al , Kubiak et al ). During the 1950s in Hungary, D. reticulatus was detected in two isolated areas of two counties, while in the present century it was detected in 16 counties, indicating a high prevalence (Sréter et al ).…”

“…In the study area, D. reticulatus was recorded for the first time during the 1960s only in one locality (Vesenjak‐Hirjan and Šooš ), while in this study it was recorded in 19 localities. Dermacentor reticulatus is the second most abundant tick species in many parts of Europe after I. ricinus (Kubiak et al ). The extensive spread of D. reticulatus tick is related to the loss of forest area (Mierzejewska et al ).…”

Molecular Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ticks Collected from Dogs in Urban Areas of North-Eastern Poland

“…is still pending, although the specific DNA of this pathogen has been detected in these ticks [40,41]. However, there is still no evidence of its role as a vector of spirochetes [4].…”

“…Along with mosquitoes, ticks are the most widespread vectors of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and protozoa) for humans and domestic animals worldwide [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus are the most important tick species in Poland, but the role of I. ricinus in pathogen transmission is dominant [ 4 ]. One of the most frequently diagnosed zoonotic tick-borne diseases is Lyme borreliosis (LB).…”

The density and peaks of seasonal activity of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in eastern Poland

“…reticulatus ran through Poland [12,15,16]. Studies on tick ecology and distribution, which have been intensified in recent years by Polish scientists, confirmed the occurrence of the species also in the northern, western and south-western territory of Poland [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. As suggested by some authors, this phenomenon should be referred to as expansion of ornate cow ticks to new areas [21,25].…”